Pre-destination

Have you ever been troubled by the word predestination? Since it's God's Will for ALL peoples to come to Him, I figured I had misunderstood what predestined means. Then it hit me!

God made PREparations for us. The Son of God PREpared The Way. In Christ Jesus, we are all equal. We all have the same destination! 

To give you a few examples of our shared destiny as Christians, we are ALL destined to:

Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11.)

Have ministry gifts to build up the church Body of Christ (Romans 12:6.)

Be ministers of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18.)

Bring light to the world (Matthew 5:14.)

Spend eternity with God (John 3:16.)

 

Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2020

 

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The Pursuit of God

First published in 1948, The Pursuit of God  by A. W. Tozer, has been reissued with an Introduction by James L. Snyder and published by Bethany House, who kindly sent me a hardback copy of this Christian classic to review.

A self-taught theologian-pastor, Tozer (1897-1963) wrote the book on a long, cross-country train ride, most likely unaware it would be published many times in many languages over many decades. He just wanted to bring readers of this and his forty-plus books into the presence of God. As he stated in the Preface, “It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the Kingdom, to see God’s children starving while actually seated at the Father’s table.”

In the chapter “Following Hard After God,” Rev. Tozer advises us:

“Come near to the holy men and women of the past, and you will soon feel the heat of their desire for God. They mourned for Him, they prayed and wrestled and sought for Him day and night, in season and out, and when they had found Him the finding was all the sweeter for the long seeking.”

His book has precisely that effect with chapter after chapter showing us how. In “The Universal Presence,” for example, Tozer explains:

“God is here when we are wholly unaware of it. He is manifest only when and as we are aware of His Presence. On our part there must be surrender to the Spirit of God, for His work it is to show us the Father and the Son. If we cooperate with Him in loving obedience, God will manifest Himself to us, and that manifestation will be the difference between a nominal Christian life and a life radiant with the light of His face.”

Each chapter ends with a prayer relevant to what’s just been read as Rev. Tozer draws us ever deeper into The Pursuit of God. The book continues to direct our focus away from ourselves and our concerns toward God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, exhorting us to “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) while become more receptive to “The Speaking Voice.”

In the chapter by that name, Rev. Tozer clarifies:

“The facts are that God is not silent, has never been silent. It is the nature of God to speak…. The Bible is the inevitable outcome of God’s continuous speech.”

Further:

“I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not only a book which was once spoken, but a book which is now speaking….” for “…a word of God once spoken continues to be spoken.”

Therefore:

“If you would follow on to know the Lord, come at once to the open Bible, expecting it to speak to you. Do not come with the notion that it is a thing which you may push around at your convenience. It is more than a thing; it is a voice, a word, the very Word of the living God.”

©2020, Mary Harwell Sayler, poet-writer, Bible Reviewer

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God’s Word on plagues and other disasters

For months we’ve been plagued by a pandemic of COVID-19 virus with subsequent outbreaks of crime, violence, joblessness, and a spirit of fear. In the midst of this turmoil, we’ve experienced weird weather patterns and natural disasters that make us wonder if all of this is supernatural.  

To get a biblical perspective on current events, I went to the Bible Gateway website and typed “plague” into the search box. Some translations immediately brought up 70+ relevant scriptures, while others showed over 100 Bible verses that included the word.

If you want to know more, just look up “plague” online or in your Bible, but for now, let’s focus on a few verses that convey God’s perspective on the subject:

“And the Lord said unto Moses, …stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God…, Let my people go, that they may serve me. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth,” Exodus 9:13-14, King James Version, KJV.

For 430 years, the pharaohs in Egypt had made slaves of God’s people, but God wanted (and still wants) His people to be free. He used several plagues to convince Pharaoh to let the people go, but, more than that, God used each plague to show His power over very particular Egyptian gods. This strengthened the faith of God’s people and also brought many Egyptians to Him.

“If you act with hostility toward Me and are unwilling to obey Me, I will multiply your plagues seven times for your sins,” Leviticus 26:21, Christian Standard Bible, CSB.

This might sound cruel at first, but remember: God is declaring spiritual warfare! He wants us to remain close to Him in faith and obedience. We have that choice for God gave us free will. And, because God is fair, just, and loving, He lets us know what consequences to expect when we reject God and set ourselves against Him.

“And Aaron (the priest) …ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed,” Numbers 16:47-48, KJV.

Is it possible for a plague to continue because God’s people forget to intercede? Through Jesus Christ, we have been declared “priests” and given the authority to pray in Jesus’ Name in the strength and power of the Risen Lord.

“And David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel,” 2 Samuel  24:25, English Standard Version, ESV.

King David responded to a plague threatening his people by building an altar and worshiping God. That’s not crazy! That’s faith. No matter what’s happening, God can be trusted to bring good out of the circumstances. Immediately, the plague ceased and, eventually, that place of worship became the location of the Jerusalem Temple.

"Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways,”  Psalm 91:9-11 KJV.

Think of it! We can inhabit the Lord. We can live within Him and He within us. What could possibly harm us when we seek refuge in God?

“In that hour (Jesus) cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he bestowed sight,” Luke 7:21, Revised Standard Version, RSV.

Jesus Christ has the power to cure – then and now! As His Body of Christ on earth, the church has been given the authority to bring health, healing, and restoration in Jesus’ Name. That means all power to you! All power to we who believe.

For now, the church must read, read, read God’s Word! With the power of Bible truths, prayer, and Holy Spirit guidance, we’re to represent Christ with faith and boldness. But then what?

What does the end time hold for us?

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them [as their God].He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.’

“The one who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ Then he said, ‘Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me, ‘They are accomplished. I [am] the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son. But as for cowards, the unfaithful, the depraved, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

“One of the seven angels who held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God,” Revelation 21:1-11a, New American Bible (Revised Edition), NABRE.

MaryHarwell Sayler, ©2020, poet, writer, and lifelong student of God’s Word; author-compiler of the Book of BiblePrayers and Kneeling on the Promisesof God

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How to Ruin Civilization

Has this very thing begun to happen? If we communicate with one another, we can find workable solutions, but first we must identify each problem before we can solve it or even know what to pray about!

The downfall of a country – whether ours or anyone else’s – often occurs because of events or actions such as these:

• Break down social structures.
• Keep people isolated.
• Make one person fearful of another – or at least suspicious.
• Stir up bigotry.  
• Be firm in the belief that one shameful person represents the whole group.
• Spread unsubstantiated rumors and lies that illustrate a point, a purpose.
• Speak loudly so that one race, religion, culture, or age group cannot possibly hear those with differing views and circumstances.
• Operate only from emotion.
• Stop doing business with local merchants and agencies until closures and lay-offs occur. People with no work, no income, and no hope will have just causes to protest.
• Destroy historical reminders of important events that led to the shaping of a people, a nation. This will keep citizens from learning from mistakes, so they’ll be doomed to repeat them.
• Place self at the center of all actions and opinions.
• Never admit a mistake or confess a sin.
• Refuse to take responsibility for anything that contributed to misunderstandings and hatred.
• Pretend everything is just fine.
• Assume inconvenient laws don’t apply.
• Believe that kindness, courtesy, and empathy are for wimps.
• Become devoted to a fake god that entices followers with false promises of wealth and power, but actually has no power or anything worthwhile to give.
• Think of self as better and more powerful than other people – or, equally important, worse off than anyone else in the world.

As a Christian, who embraces the Judeo-Christian Bible, I believe we’ll find answers to each problem if we read our Bibles with an open mind and spirit, recognize ourselves in the uncensored history of God’s people, and request the guidance, forgiveness, and help of our Lord God, Who has the power to save and restore all that’s lost.

©2020, Mary Sayler

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Would We Recognize a Prophet if We Saw One?

As Christians, we’ve heard of the ministry gifts the Holy Spirit gives God’s people to build up the community of faith. Hopefully, we even know what our particular gifts are. If not, we can always ask God to reveal this as we reflect on the various gifts listed in Romans 12 and First Corinthians 12.

For instance, some of us have a gift of wisdom, discernment, exhortation, or healing, while others have a God-given ability to teach, preach, evangelize, or do administrative work. Usually, we can recognize those gifts in the Christian community, but what about the gift of prophecy? Do we recognize that gift in other people of faith – or in ourselves?

According to a search on Bible Gateway, the word “prophet” comes up at least 450 to 500 times. However, we might have heard more about false prophets, which, ironically, the Bible only mentions a couple dozen times. Apparently, that’s enough to frighten us! But, that's enough of that!

Dare we ask God to reveal the prophets in our midst? Or – to be really daring – dare we ask, “Lord, am I a prophet?” God might stun you with a “yes!”

Anxieties over false prophets can make us wary of that gift in others – and unaware of that gift in ourselves. But, if we dare to pray about it and consider this possibility, we can tell if these descriptions fit us or someone we know.

• Are you drawn to read God’s word, again and again?
• Do your values often differ from those of other people?
• Do you see where things are headed long before they’re there?
• Do you recognize the Lord (or His absence) in the people or situations around you?
• Is truth truly important to you?
• Are you apt to look beneath the surface and beyond the way things seem?
• Can you see into the heart?
• Would you rather please God than people?
• Can you identify problems but also see solutions?
• Do you long to see wrongs corrected?
• Are you sensitive to God’s movement?
• Do you often feel an urgency to pray?
• Do you encourage God’s people to seek and obey Him?
• Do you speak up when no one else will?

Many people think of a prophet as judgmental or some kind of psychic able to tell the future, but that’s not it at all. A gift of prophecy does come with power to discern what’s going on and to see where it’s likely to end up, but, more often, a prophetic gift helps God’s people to wake up to spiritual realities and gain courage to use whatever gifts they have been given to serve the Lord.

Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2020

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Why I murdered Jesus

[Spoiler Alert! We know we've all sinned, but this prose poem makes it personal.]

Even in the Garden of Eden, God wanted everything perfect. How could I fit in? I thought of fruit as food, not fare for knowing good and evil or other things over my head! Why entice me with beautiful berries wrapped in seamless silken skin – fragrance summoning me – and no seeds to navigate around, no hard core in the middle?

I admit I disobeyed. I ignored Your clear instructions, Lord. And then You murdered me!

You sent my now-limited life from the Garden in shame – spiritually dead, nothing the same, everything changed forever.

How hard I toil for fruit that spoils in a life filled with imperfection! I feel worthless. I question myself at every turn, fearing Your rejection.

Where do I go? How do I live with myself? How do I live without You?

Trying to be good and obey every dot and iota of the law didn’t do it! Neither did self-hatred nor mutilating remorse. I wanted to make things right, Lord, but I couldn’t, and You wouldn’t let me!

You sent Yourself –

Your Son –

The Perfect One –

Who perfectly suited

Your plan of redemption,

the Fruit of Yourself –

Your Pure Love – given

to exempt me from my own sin.

I’m sorry, Lord! I’m sorry, but

I could not stand

to look on such Whole and Holy Love

and live

as I’d been living.

What could I do but kill Him?

by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2017

[EPILOGUE/PRAYER: Lord, help us to confess anything that keeps us from You. Help us to truly accept Your forgiveness. Praise You, Lord, for overcoming death, forgiving all who turn to You, and bringing us new life and a fresh start each day in Jesus' Name.]

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Corona goes viral! What to do.

If you’ve been hearing about the Corona Virus, you’ve been bombarded with precautions such as: Stay home. Wash your hands with soap for at least 20 second every time you have been out. Sit and stand several feet away from other people. Avoid hugs and hand-shakes. Cough into a tissue – things I hope you’ve already been doing anytime anything is “going around.”

We who love God also count on the Lord to protect us, and certainly, our faith will overcome fear. But that doesn’t mean faith wipes out good sense! On the contrary, believers in God do well to investigate what our Creator has placed in nature that will boost health now - physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Physically

Vitamin C in reasonable amounts will help to protect your immune system. However, too much can send you running to the bathroom where, oh no! You might not have toilet paper! (Hmm. For that, God made big leaves, right?)

Echinacea is a natural herb with antiviral properties. Its “dirty sock” smell and earthy flavor keep us from downing it like candy, which means it’s not to be taken like a bag of potato chips or chocolate squares. The trouble is, this herb works in the mouth, not the stomach, so instead of swallowing an Echinacea capsule, open it and dump the contents into a honey-sweetened cup of tea.

Low humidity dries out body cells, making mucous membranes less able to filter out dust, pollen, and germs. Besides drinking lots and lots of clean water, use a humidifier. Or put water on the stove to boil, then add a few drops of cinnamon oil or eucalyptus or peppermint.

Find something to laugh about – the more belly involved the better. Listen to soothing music. Sing. Dance around to get your blood and those happy endorphins circling.

Mentally

Focusing on fear gives whatever we’re afraid of power over us as fear becomes the focal point of our lives. We can’t always control our feelings, but we can change the subject of our thoughts.

Instead of panic, choose faith over fear. (Yep, it’s a decision! Do we trust God or not?)

Read Psalms, Bible prayers, and poetry to stimulate faith.

Journal. Paint a picture. Color with crayons.

Relax. Watch the sun set. Get ample rest.

Spiritually

Constant worry puts the body into a fight or flight mode. Every time you start to worry about something, pray about it instead.

Look up “faith” in a Bible concordance. Find verses that speak to you and claim them for your own. (For me, for instance, it’s Romans 8:28 and John 3:17.)

Pray the Lord’s Prayer aka Our Father as though it were an outline for praying. As you say each phrase, let God bring to mind the people or situations for whom you’re to pray. For example, “Give ___ today the bread needed to feed their family.” Or, “Lead us not into the temptation to give in to our fears.” Or, “Deliver us, Lord, from the evil of faithlessness, greed, and hardened hearts.”

Count your blessings. Thank God for each gift. Praise God as The One to Trust – The One Who Wills to work for your good, no matter how scary things seem.

Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2020.

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